WHO Raises Doubts About India’s Wyeth Pneumonia Vaccinations
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine India decided recently to add to its national immunization program apparently has no effect on the disease, according to the World Health Organization. A WHO bulletin said the PCV not only does not fight pneumonia, it actually increases asthma risks in children. A high-level committee of experts in India's Health Ministry earlier recommended including PCV in the immunization program and the ministry said it would do so within a year despite its high cost of more than $90 per child. The WHO bulletin advised governments to assess the cost of the Wyeth drug given its questionable effect, but Wyeth said the bulletin item contained inaccuracies and misleading statements. (Click here for more